“For telling me about the mirrors. For your help.” He granted her a weak smile.
“You’re welcome. I’ll let you know if I find out anything.”
He nodded and then shuffled back to his cozy home. Snow slipped out into the night and headed home.
As she walked back, though, she heard the festival was still in full swing. Lots of joyous voices, singing, music, laughter. This year, she felt more like an outsider than ever. The familiar faces seemed distant, their laughter echoing through the trees as a constant reminder of her isolation while she stood on the periphery. She knew it was because all the young couples were pairing off and looking for their own true loves.
Snow, though, knew her true love was not here in the forest.
He was somewhere out there. When she met him, she would know.
She started to make the turn for her home and then changed her mind. Since everyone was still at the festival, it would be her chance to go into the forest and see if she could find those answers.
It was a risk, she knew, especially stepping outside the protective circle of the Elder’s magic. It was a risk she had to take.
She made her way from the village through the forest as she did many times before. So many times, she had lost count. She lifted the edge of her gown and stepped carefully over fallen logs. She made her way to Faradill where she knelt in front of the massive tree. She placed her palms on the trunk, closed her eyes, and whispered the incantation.
“Ancient oak, with roots so deep, guardian of secrets, wisdom to keep. In your branches, the whispers of old, reveal to me tales untold.”
Hello, my lady Snow.
“I have a request.”
Faradill was not only wise, but also intuitive.
I will help if I can.
“Do you know where the dark wizard once lived?”
Quite the request.He chuckled.The dark wizard gave us life. The elves saved us from his wickedness.
She nodded, knowing this already from the story Master Harwin told her.
Indeed, I do know where he lived. His cabin is on the edge of the woods. To the west.
Her heart thudded. That was too far to hike at this time of night and she had never gone that far alone anyway. She needed an excuse not to help Yirrie with the baking tomorrow so she could trek across the forest to the wizard’s cabin.
Why do you seek it?the oak asked.
“I have questions about him. I hoped to find answers there.”
You are going.It wasn’t a question.
“I am.”
There was a long pause. Then he said,Tread carefully there, my lady Snow. No one has been near there in years.
A warning. Cold shivers slipped up her spine. “Is it dangerous?”
It is where the dark wizard began,he said.The elves tried to hide his cabin, but it still stands.
“I will heed your warning. Thank you, Faradill,” she said.
Stay safe, my lady.
She removed her palms, releasing the spell on the ancient oak. A yawn escaped her. She sank to the ground and sat with her back against the trunk, stretching her legs out in front of her as she thought of the dark wizard and his hidden cabin deep in the Wyldwood. How would she find her way to the other side of the forest? As she pondered this, her eyes grew heavy and before long she was fast asleep.
Snow awoke to the sound of faint birdsong. Her eyes fluttered open. She had fallen asleep at the foot of Faradill, curled on her side and her head pillowed on her arm. Sometime during the night, she was covered with a thick blanket woven from leaves and sticks. Annilen was in a tight ball near the base of the tree, her tiny features calm and serene as she slept. She smiled, wondering when her friend had found her. The last thing she recalled was falling asleep after chatting with Faradill about the dark wizard.
